Patterson Cemetery District, Stanislaus County, CA
Submitted by Gale Stroud and Burta Herger 26 Aug 2007
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Baldridge Robert 341207 p1
Owl Crushes Car; One Killed; One Dying; Two Hurt; One dead, one dying and two injured was the toll taken in a
crossing crash Sunday night at the Fylling crossing north of town when the speeding Owl limited crashed squarely into a
car carrying a Gustine family of four, hurling them in all directions. Robert Baldridge, eight, was so badly injured he
passed away just as he reached a Newman hospital. His mother, Mrs. Dale Baldridge incurred a severe skull fracture and
other injuries which were expected to cause her death at any moment at this writing. Dale Baldridge, who was driving
and his older son Dale Jr. are also in the hospital, but are not in danger and will probably be out soon. Other passing
motorists stopped and aided in the search for the victims, and they were rushed into town for first aid treatment and then
taken to a Newman hospital in cars driven by Dr. E. G. Allen and Constable C. W. Kirk. The point where the crash
occurred is recognized as a dangerous one. The highway parallels the railroad track from Tracy and at this point makes
crossing from the east to the westside and continues southward again making a curve on each side of the crossing.
Bladridge, headed south, had the train behind and on his right, and although there were pavement bars warning of the
crossing he evidently crossed without looking back. It is reported that he told inquirers that he neither saw not heard
anything
Struck at Full Speed; The car was evidently hit while the train was at practically full speed. Crossing diagonally, the car
was hit on the corner and doubled into a shapeless mass. The passengers were all thrown clear, but the remains of the car
were carried by the locomotive a quarter mile before the speed slackened and the wreckage was thrown off. The cattle
guard at the crossing was completely demolished and the fragments of the chassis were torn free when a second cattle
guard was torn down at the Olive Avenue crossing a quarter mile south. The car, a large Pierce Arrow, was so completely
wrecked as to be scarcely recognized as an automobile. Four crumpled wheels piled together and a battered portion of the
windshield and engine were the only pieces that held together. And the fragments that were scattered along the right of
way were all shattered bits, the largest visible being a seat cushion, all evidence of the terrific force of the blow.
Baldridge is the owner of a garage business in the Snyder building on the main street of Gustine. The family had spent
the day with Stockton friends and were en route home when the crash occurred.